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Question DetailsAsked on 11/14/2011

3 Answers

First find some quality roofing contractors in your area. Ask friends and family for referrals to past roofing contractors, or of coarse there is always Angies List.

Do your due dilligence, don't trust any one source, even Angies List, in my opinion. Contact your local building department and ask if the contractor is in good standing in your area, if there have been any complaints. Also ask what kind of licenses are required in your area. There may be city and or state licenses required in your area. Don't consider hiring a contractor who is not licensed. Also check with the BBB, you are not just looking for their grade A, B C etc... which is more of a scam than anything, but check to see if they have any complaints, how many, and over what period of time.

Another thing to consider is manufacturer certifications. Most professional roofing contractors have aligned themselves with one or two manufacturers. In most cases these manufacturers will offer installation and business management training. While this is no guarantee of a great job, it's one more thing to consider.

Ask for a few addresses of properties similiar to yours. Ask to see a job working with them in action, see how professional they are, how neat, how organized.

Insist on seeing copies of their certificate of insurance showing General Libaility as well as Workman's Compensation insurance. Call the broker/agent listed on the certificate and ensure their policy is still in affect and that they are insured for roofing operations.

In my opinion, avoid the lowest bidder. In most cases you are taking some risks by hiring the low price contractor. More often than not, they either made a mistake or are cutting some corner. It takes courage, but don't be afraid to invest the extra money into a job well done!

Of course there is more to it than that. Experience is key. If you let us know what kind of roof you have (steep or low slope) and what kind of roofing material you are interested in having installed; I would be more than happy to make technical recomendations for your new roof.

At the end of the day it all comes down to trust. Who do you trust most with your property?